John McKnight Bloss
President, 1892-1896
John McKnight Bloss with Oregon Agricultural
College students, ca. 1894.
Bloss (second from right in front row) is seated on the steps of
Benton Hall with his daughter Nannie
(to Bloss' left). Others in the group are E.G. Emmett (middle row,
far right), an OAC graduate (1894) and OAC instructor; E.E. Wilson
(top row, second from right), an OAC graduate (1889) and Corvallis
attorney; and Martha (Mattie) Avery (top row on right), also an OAC
graduate (1892). [OSU Archives P17:267]
John McKnight Bloss served as the third President of Oregon
Agricultural College from 1892 until 1896. He was the first OAC
president hired directly by the Board of Regents. After a
nationwide search, the Board selected Bloss in April 1892 and he
arrived in Corvallis in early June. In addition to his duties as
President of the College and Director of the Experiment Station, he
was appointed as Professor of Mental and Moral Science and taught
courses in political economy, psychology, and ethics.
An Indiana native, Bloss entered Hanover College (Indiana) in 1854
and received an A.B. degree with honors in 1860.
Bloss fought with the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry in the Army
of the Potomac during the Civil War. On the morning of September
13th, 1862, Sergeant Bloss found what would later be known as
"Lee's Lost Dispatch" (Special Order 191) giving detailed
Confederate troop movements. Bloss recognized the importance of
this find and forwarded it through the chain of command to General
McClellan. Bloss fought and was wounded in several battles,
including Antietam, before he resigned his commission
and retired from the army in 1864.
His career in education included serving as a teacher; principal;
superintendent of the city schools of Evansville (1875-1880) and
Muncie (1883-1886), Indiana and Topeka, Kansas (1886-1892); and the
State Superintendent for Public Instruction for Indiana (1880-
1882).
Bloss resigned from the presidency of OAC in 1896 due to failing
health and returned to his farm north of Muncie, Indiana where he
remained until his death in 1905. During his retirement, he
established the first consolidated school (Royerton) west of the
Allegheny Mountains in his home township of Hamilton.
John McKnight Bloss, ca. 1872. This photograph
was taken by J.A. Wilson, Photographer of New
Albany, Indiana. Bloss was principal of the Female High School in
New Albany from 1870 until 1875. [OSU Archives, John McKnight
Bloss Collection]
President John M. Bloss in campus
greenhouse, ca.
1896. Bloss wore his Union officer's greatcoat for a
photograph in the College greenhouse. [OSU Archives, John
McKnight Bloss Collection]
Graduating Class of 1892 with College faculty and
new president, 1892.
The new College
President John M. Bloss
arrived in Corvallis on June 3rd and conferred degrees to the Class
of 1892 at the Commencement program on June 29th. Bloss is the
tallest man in the back row and Letcher is standing to his left in
front of him. [OSU Archives #73]
John M.
Bloss and his family at his farm (Blossom
Acres) in Indiana, 1905.
Bloss married Emma L. McPheeters in
1865 and had 2 children, Nannie and William H. (Will). Emma died
of typhoid in Topeka, Kansas and Bloss married Mary A. Woods in
1893, while the College President.
Nannie Bloss accompanied her father to Corvallis in 1892 and later
married Dumont Lotz, who was an Assistant Professor of Chemistry
(1891-1892) and Station Chemist (1892-1893) at OAC.
President Bloss' son, Will, spent 1893-1894 in Corvallis. Although
not enrolled as a student, he coached and quarterbacked the first
college football team (1893), sang first baritone with the College
Quartette, and coached the college baseball team the following
spring (1894). After 3 years of service in the U.S. Army at
Vancouver, Washington, he returned to Corvallis in 1897 and coached
the championship 1897 football team.
This photograph was probably taken in the spring of 1905, shortly
before Bloss died. From left to right, it includes: Bloss; his
daughter-in-law Martha Faye Best Bloss; son Will H. Bloss; wife
Mary Woods Bloss; grandson John Jacob Bloss Lotz; and daughter
Nannie Bloss Lotz. [OSU Archives, John McKnight Bloss
Collection]
Where to Find More Information about John M. Bloss
President's Office Records
(RG 13)
John McKnight Bloss
Collection
Board of Regents Records (RG 8)
Memorabilia Collection - Bloss, John McKnight
OSU Chronological History for the
1890s
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Last updated: Tuesday, 02-Sep-2003 15:51:37 PDT
